[Steverino]

1. Make the window visors extendable across the entire width of the front side windows. They end short of where my head/eyes are. Sunlight from the side is blinding. The 2017 visors are useless for side sunlight except for people very close to the dash and steering wheel. I'm 6'2, my wife 5'8", we both experience this issue.

2. The front all weather mats should extend up the firewall, like the 2011 Volt's. And I was expecting heavy duty rubber like the Volt's. Instead these are hollow ribbed and don't go up the firewall.

3. Add or offer a dead pedal rest mat.

4. interior door handle pocket inserts and cup inserts (again, like my 2011 Volt). It's surprising how much the inserts improve the look and feel of the interior (I made my own from AutoZone rubber sheet).

5.Add the lifting locations for scissors jacks to the owner's manual. Some of us rotate our own tires.

 

[quirkySquirt]

I'd like to add since I was browsing for a Bolt recently.

1. Maybe by default include the false floor option as standard on the LT model too?
2. Add bolting point for spare tire similar to Volt Gen 2.
3. Add tie-down anchors in cargo area like Volt Gen 2.

 

[Qinsp]

Offer a RS variant.
Wider 18" wheels, electronic limited slip diff, bigger brakes, adjustable suspension, 130mph gearing, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S or equivalent.

 

[Sean Nelson]

Add bolting point for spare tire similar to Volt Gen 2.

It seems to me that when I looked into the "spare tire well" (that's too small to fit a spare tire) there's a threaded hole down there which one could probably use with a threaded rod and a bit of other hardware to anchor the spare tire.

 

[Jim Fallston Md.]

1. Make the window visors extendable across the entire width of the front side windows. They end short of where my head/eyes are. Sunlight from the side is blinding. The 2017 visors are useless for side sunlight except for people very close to the dash and steering wheel. I'm 6'2, my wife 5'8", we both experience this issue.

2. The front all weather mats should extend up the firewall, like the 2011 Volt's. And I was expecting heavy duty rubber like the Volt's. Instead these are hollow ribbed and don't go up the firewall.

3. Add or offer a dead pedal rest mat.

4. interior door handle pocket inserts and cup inserts (again, like my 2011 Volt). It's surprising how much the inserts improve the look and feel of the interior (I made my own from AutoZone rubber sheet).

5.Add the lifting locations for scissors jacks to the owner's manual. Some of us rotate our own tires.

I agree with all of your wishes but you have to understand that 54% of the Bolt EV is Korean parts. I had issues with the USB ports not working with all of the sticks that were used in both of my Volts. I had to convert all of my music to mp3 for them to work in the Bolt. Also I had to get new phones as the older ones that I had that worked perfectly in both of my Volts wouldn't always connect to the Bluetooth and would disconnect constantly. I am happy with the Bolt, Don't get me wrong, But if they had as much attention to detail as the did in the gen 1 Volts it would have been so much better. And as many have said before GM is spending more time & money on pickups and big suv's. As for the mats I am using the Husky weather-beaters from my 2012 Volt, They don't fit perfect but do provide some protection till they come out with the ones for the Bolt.

 

[Steverino]

It seems to me that when I looked into the "spare tire well" (that's too small to fit a spare tire) there's a threaded hole down there which one could probably use with a threaded rod and a bit of other hardware to anchor the spare tire.

I'm pretty sure a donut spare will fit, but full size likely not.

 

[quirkySquirt]

It seems to me that when I looked into the "spare tire well" (that's too small to fit a spare tire) there's a threaded hole down there which one could probably use with a threaded rod and a bit of other hardware to anchor the spare tire.

Hmmm, I must've missed it. I need to go look at some Bolts again and get some photos. I didn't have the guts to remove the bottom-most foam insert cause it didn't come out easily and I didn't want to break it. I don't recall seeing a hole through the foam insert for the retaining bolt, but apparently I missed photographing that foam insert.

I'm pretty sure a donut spare will fit, but full size likely not.

I measured the tire diameter and thickness using a water bottle. It looks very close but I think you can fit a full-size spare under the false cargo floor. I'll make sure to bring a tape measure next time I look at a Bolt.

 

[TheBlueFlash]

Add ACC and a Moonroof while you're at it GM, k thx.

 

[Lewis9]

Decent seats that are 2 inches wider with more padding would be a definite plus.

Get rid of ugly cliched floating roof and two front teeth.

Replace/augment resistance heater with heat pump.

 

[Steverino]

Hmmm, I must've missed it. I need to go look at some Bolts again and get some photos. I didn't have the guts to remove the bottom-most foam insert cause it didn't come out easily and I didn't want to break it. I don't recall seeing a hole through the foam insert for the retaining bolt, but apparently I missed photographing that foam insert.

There is a hold down retaining bolt for the foam insert, but it's far to the rear, not in the center and not towsrd the passenger side where you'd have the spare. Perhaps with a very long threaded rod assembly it could attach to a wheel hole in a steel donut spare. But I don't think a full size wheel lug nut hole would line up.

The space between the cargo deck and the foam insert looks like it could indeed hold a full sized spare. I measured 26" diameter by 8.25" high. The Bolt's full sized wheels are 25.46" diameter and the tire height looks like 8". A donut spare will be smaller of course.

a Moonroof while you're at it GM, k thx.

Have you looked into the aftermarket? Some Volt owners had a moonroof installed that way.

Replace resistance heater with heat pump.

Keep in mind a heat pump will cost more and will still need a resistance heater.

 

[Steverino]

Hmmm, I must've missed it. I need to go look at some Bolts again and get some photos. I didn't have the guts to remove the bottom-most foam insert cause it didn't come out easily and I didn't want to break it. I don't recall seeing a hole through the foam insert for the retaining bolt, but apparently I missed photographing that foam insert.

There is a hold down retaining bolt for the foam insert, but it's far to the rear, not in the center and not towsrd the passenger side where you'd have the spare. Perhaps with a very long threaded rod assembly it could attach to a wheel hole in a steel donut spare. But I don't think a full size wheel lug nut hole would line up.

The space between the cargo deck and the foam insert looks like it could indeed hold a full sized spare. I measured 26" diameter by 8.25" high. The Bolt's full sized wheels are 25.46" diameter and the tire height looks like 8". A donut spare will be smaller of course.

a Moonroof while you're at it GM, k thx.

Have you looked into the aftermarket? Some Volt owners had a moonroof installed that way.

Replace resistance heater with heat pump.

Keep in mind a heat pump will cost more and will still need a resistance heater.

 

[Norton]

Add ACC ..., k thx.

+1
Gotta have me some New Tech.
It lessens the pilot's work load.
(if you can make an autonomous Bolt,,, come on....)

I shall wait, GM, k thx.

 

[ColMosby]

Increase the recharging speed.

 

[bro1999]

Add a button (either physical or permabutton on the center display) that lets you turn on the front facing camera at low speeds without having to hunt for it in the menu.

 

[Steverino]

Increase the recharging speed.

To what? The Bolt already supports 7.2kW L2 charging. Do you have a 240V EVSE that can handle more than that? I think there are some now capable of 9.6kW. My guess is this will be a constant catch-up game.

I'm recharging using my Volt EVSE at 3kW. I top-off the Bolt nightly to add back the 60 or so miles used, so it's never a problem even at half the speed the car is capable of supporting.

 

[Sean Nelson]

Provide an SD card slot so that all of the cameras can be used to record "dashcam" footage to it. It's stupid to have to buy a separate dashcam when there are already so many cameras built into the car.

 

[quirkySquirt]

There is a hold down retaining bolt for the foam insert, but it's far to the rear, not in the center and not towsrd the passenger side where you'd have the spare. *snip*

Is it the hole I have circled in red?

 

[Lewis9]

Keep in mind a heat pump will cost more and will still need a resistance heater.[/QUOTE]

Yes I actually do know a heat pump would not be free Steverino. It would be interesting to know what the cost ratio might be between the extra range in battery capacity required in cold weather when 100 percent resistance heating is used versus the cost of the heat pump. I doubt being cold in their car is something most people would be happy about doing to reach their destination. Since the Germans, Japanese and Koreans go with heat pumps in their electric cars and GM uniquely does not you have to ask yourself why?

My guess is beating the Tesla 3 to the market was the reason we didn't get the heat pump option and did get crappy seats that absolutely HAD to have been flagged in clinics.

Yes heat pumps cost real money which is why a heatpump should become an option .........big take up in Minnesota, not so much in Louisiana.

And comfortable seats should be STANDARD on a 40k car which is sold on range (I.e. long trips). Whatever they saved on the barstool mini seats to keep the car semi affordable wasn't worth it.

I have to say putting seats in the Bolt that knock out about 50 percent of your potential buyers in a car with new technology that has a limited acceptance to begin with (and cost a Kings ransom to develop) should be a fireable offense for the idiot product planner who made the decision.

Reminders of the old GM? My gen1 Volt obviously was the best they could do at the time. My gen 2 not quite as much (cutting homelink, less comfortable seats etc.). The Bolt yells cost cutting and quick to market ....inappropriate for a car with breakthrough technology.....and just isn't the car it could have been given a bit more time and budget.

Please GM don't pennypinch Volt/Bolt to death like you did to my Saturns.

I am a GM lifer and it was brave for GM to go mass market with the Bolt but perhaps they went overboard trying so hard to hit a price point and time line.

 

[Qinsp]

Keep in mind a heat pump will cost more and will still need a resistance heater.

Yes I actually do know a heat pump would not be free Steverino. It would be interesting to know what the cost ratio might be between the extra range in battery capacity required in cold weather when 100 percent resistance heating is used versus the cost of the heat pump. I doubt being cold in their car is something most people would be happy about doing to reach their destination. Since the Germans, Japanese and Koreans go with heat pumps in their electric cars and GM uniquely does not you have to ask yourself why?

My guess is beating the Tesla 3 to the market was the reason we didn't get the heat pump option and did get crappy seats that absolutely HAD to have been flagged in clinics.

Yes heat pumps cost real money which is why a heatpump should become an option .........big take up in Minnesota, not so much in Louisiana.

And decent seats should be STANDARD on a 40k car. Whatever they saved on the barstool mini seats to keep the car semi affordable wasn't worth it.

I have to say putting seats in the Bolt that knock out about 50 percent of your potential buyers in a car with new technology that has a limited acceptance to begin with (and cost a Kings ransom to develop) should be a fireable offense for the idiot product planner who made the decision.

Reminders of the old GM? My gen1 Volt obviously was the best they could do at the time. My gen 2 not quite as much (cutting homelink, less comfortable seats etc.). The Bolt yells cost cutting and quick to market ....inappropriate for a car with breakthrough technology.....and just isn't the car it could have been given a bit more time and budget.

Please GM don't pennypinch Volt/Bolt to death like you did to Saturn.

I am a GM lifer and it was brave for GM to go mass market with the Bolt but perhaps they went overboard trying so hard to hit a price point and time line.

Both the GM EV1 and Chevrolet S10 EV had heat pumps and inductive charging.

So it's not like GM was not familiar with the technology a decade before other EV makers.

How much range do you gain by the heatpump vs. cost vs. cost of battery?

Example:

Let's say an automotive lightweight non-CFC and it's associated secondary airflow heat-exchanger is $1000 more. You need capacity to quickly warm the battery and defrost the windshield and heat the cabin. So it's much larger/heavier in all aspects than an AC unit if you want battery life.

And let's say it saves 2 kW over pure resistance. 3 hour trip at 70 mph is 210 miles. 3 hr = 6 kWh of savings. So to add 6 kWh of battery to make up for it needs to be $167 per kWh to eliminate any advantage of a heat pump as far as range goes.
But the 6 kWh battery gives you more unheated range, more potential HP, faster potential charging.

Spend the money/weight on a heat pump or battery? Which is a the better engineering choice? Before you say Nissan did it right, no they did not. They did not calculate battery heating and cooling needs, and never were wildly more efficient than other choices.

 

[Steverino]

Yes I actually do know a heat pump would not be free Steverino.
And decent seats should be STANDARD on a 40k car.

I suspect (GM has not said), that the extra cost would not be offset by the gain over the Bolt's A/C system which according to some earlier posts is more efficient than GM's earlier units like my 2011 Volt. Other's have said heat pumps in cars are not yet robust enough, but as you point out, a few competitors have them. Maybe GM doesn't want to roll the dice on heatpumps just yet. They aren't saying much.

My Bolt has heated front and rear seats and steering wheel. I can also precondition the car from house current before leaving. These are awesome for cold climates and cuts down some of the need for blasting oven air. Like the misplaced concern about the Bolt's drag numbers, I expect the extra mileage lost to resistance heating vs. heat pump to be minimal.

The $40k car argument has been around a long time, starting with the 2011 Volt. We had many posts back then that started with, "I can't believe a $40k car doesn't have..." If you are looking at electric drive range, the only car you can compare the Bolt to currently is a Model 3 and they aren't generally available to the public yet. When they are, bets are that you'll be looking at a $50k car. And it's not a CUV/hatch. The reality is, the Bolt's price will come down over time (like the Volt's did), and the car will get improvements. I have been driving the Bolt regularly. I was initially worried about the seats given all the comments here, but my wife and I haven't had any issues with the seats. They are different, but not worse than my Volt's. I actually prefer driving the Bolt even though it's shorter wheelbase makes it a bit bouncier.